A/N: Thank you for all the reviews :)

I am feeling motivated and inspired again - wrote 3000 words of an outline for the rest of the chapters and I want to update a few times a week to get this story wrapped up.

But I need your help - please review and keep me motivated and inspired, trust me it works.

Otherwise, its a tough day a work and I go... should I write or just watch TV and be lazy? And if I'm lazy too many nights in a row I lose inspiration and it's months before I find it again lol

I'm excited to finally get this finished so you can find out who the killer is - although I love reading all the theories.

Reasonable Doubt – Chapter 24

Erin POV

"Did you find anything?" I ask Jen down the phone as I wait for Jay to join me at the defense table.

"I think so, I'll send through what I found."

"Great, thanks."

"I feel wrong going through his things." She sighs down the phone at me.

"Well I need you to, while he's not home."

"It's fine. I don't actually feel that bad." I can almost picture her smirk.

"I'll talk to you later." I tell Jen before hanging up as Jay takes a seat.

"You okay?"

"Yeah." He nods once, nerves racking his body.

It's not long before things get underway, the prosecution having expert after expert to speak to the mental state of those in the military and detectives involved in the case.

The number of witnesses called to relay the same facts grow tiresome which I expect is what he wants.

"Your honor, I'd like to add a witness to the list."

"There it is." I mutter under my breath.

"Miss Lindsay, did you say something?" The judge asks with a raised eyebrow.

"We didn't get notified of an amended witness list."

"Your honor it's Officer Brickson, he was the responding officer the morning Allie Johnsons body was found."

"I'll allow it, but tread carefully – I'm not sure what else he could have to offer the court on a topic you have already exhausted quite thoroughly." I hide my smile behind my hand at the Judge's caution.

We sit there for more of the mundane questions he's already asked past detectives on the stand, waiting for the shoe to drop.

When he rests and releases the witness to me for questioning it's then I realize whatever he wants to achieve cannot be done unless I walk into a trap, allowing for this evidence to be admitted.

"No questions your honor." I nod before turning to smile at the prosecution, seeing the surprise on his face.

"Why didn't you ask any questions?" Jay whispers confused.

"You never ask a question you don't know the answer to."

"What? Isn't that the whole point of asking questions?"

"No. I didn't cross-examine because he didn't say anything the jury didn't already know. It was pointless which makes me think my questioning would have brought something out we don't want the jury to hear. I didn't know what to ask, so I didn't." Jay nods at me, brows furrowed before turning back to the front.

The next morning is Saturday and I'm smiling as I slip out from under Jay's arm, giggling at his sleeping self, face down on the mattress.

I busy myself in the kitchen, doing my best to stay as quiet as possible.

Arms wrap around my waist from behind, pulling me into his warmth and pressing a kiss to my neck.

"Morning." He whispers reaching down for a piece of bacon.

I playfully smack his hand, before turning the stove off and turning around to smile up at him.

"You ruined my surprise." I pout playfully before wrapping my arms around his neck and bringing our lips together.

"Breakfast? You cooking sure is a surprise." I scoff at him, smacking his bare chest.

"Real cute. Don't mind as much now you ruined breakfast in bed." I poke my tongue out at him.

"What's the occasion?"

"You can't be serious." I glare at him, watching the colour drain from his face.

"Uh."

"Kidding, don't worry it's not some silly anniversary of ours or something." Now he glares at me.

"You deserved that. But…" I pull from his arms to run into the dining area and opening the cupboard to pull out a present.

"Happy birthday… almost." I bite my lip as we meet in the middle.

"How'd you know?"

"Seriously? For one you filled out legal paperwork, I'm your emergency contact… shall I go on?"

"No… but my birthday isn't until Tuesday." I huff out with an eye roll.

"I know but we'll be in court so I am officially changing your birthday to today, just for this year."

"You're amazing." He leans down to kiss me.

"I know." I'm giggling as he pulls back to open the gift.

"Now that's some nice scotch."

"Right?" I rest my head against his bicep, watching him reach for the card before I place a kiss on his arm and head back to the stove to dish up breakfast.

By the time I have plates and coffee on the table he's just staring at me.

"What?"

"I'm just thinking about how much of a lucky bastard I am."

"Not that lucky." I tilt my head at him.

"If I wasn't arrested, we wouldn't have ever met. A defense attorney and a cop? Unlikely. It's like it was fate."

"Come site down you dork." I roll my eyes; never wanting to acknowledge that the pain he's suffering is worth it if we get to spend our lives together.

"Can I take this blind fold off yet?" Jay grumbles next to me as I pull into a parking spot rolling my eyes.

"Aren't you just loving my birthday surprises?" He cracks a smirk at my tone of voice.

"Oh, a lot. Who knew you could shoot?"

"Never underestimate me." I giggle poking his side.

"I don't want to admit it, but you might be a better shot then me."

"Oh I want you to admit it." I giggle as I lean over and kiss his cheek.

"I really needed that, thank you." He catches my hand, giving it a squeeze.

"I thought you might need to blow off some steam." I pull our hands up to place a kiss on the back of his hand.

"So…" He gestures to the blindfold.

"Hang on." I get out of the car and race around to the passenger side, helping him out.

"Okay. Take it off." He takes off the blindfold, blinks in surprise before turning to me with tears in his eyes.

"I thought this is a tradition you should bring back on your birthday."

"How did you know?"

"I snooped. Well, Jen snooped." I shrug while smiling innocently at him, watching him chuckle.

"I found pictures of you and your mum here, every birthday… I didn't have anyone to ask but I took a guess." His hands are on my waist pulling me in to kiss me thoroughly.

"I love it, and I love you." He intertwines our hands and pulls me towards the pier.

"Have you been here since…" I trail off wanting to know more but not wanting to pry.

"Not since she passed no. We came here every year for as long as I can remember. Mum knew things weren't great between me and dad… so this one day a year was just the two of us. After I celebrated with the friends I actually had, we would come here. Eat our weight in food, and then going on the rides… finally finishing with the Ferris wheel."

"Ohhh food and fun. My two favourite things."

"Thank you again Erin, this is the best birthday I've had since she's been gone."

"You're welcome. I just wanted to do something special, to celebrate the day you came into this world. It's something I'm so grateful for. I never met your mum, but she gave me the best thing in my life."

He pulls me in for another kiss, keeping me warm from the chill off the water with his strong arms.

Jay POV

"Man, that was an experience." I chuckle as Marcus takes a seat on the couch.

"She seems nice Jay." Jake steps in, shooting me a smile.

"But scary as hell." Mouse adds in his typical fashion.

"Poor Miles doesn't know what he's in for."

"She's the best at what she does." I tell them with a small smile.

It's hard not to be able to open up to my army buddies about my feelings for her, keeping our relationship quiet.

"We've heard. How you holding up man? You good?"

"I'd be lost without her. She didn't have to take my case on pro bono."

"And put you up in her apartment. This is a sweet set up you got here." Marcus laughs making a show of checking out the apartment.

"Yeah, besides the whole on trial for murder part." I smirk over at him watching him splutter.

"All good man, kidding."

"So, Jay. That's a fine woman you got in there." I raise my eyebrow at Mouse.

"She's not my woman." They all scoff and exchange looks.

"We're not stupid or blind." Jake tells me leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees.

"We also know you well, and you've never talked about or looked at someone the way you look at her." Marcus too leans forward, giving me the sense they are ganging up on me.

"Despite our constant nagging for you to live your life."

"It's inappropriate to say the least to date your lawyer." I defend myself half-heartedly.

"Uh huh. Dude, we won't tell a soul." Jake sends me a smile.

"In fact you don't even have to confirm it, just don't deny it and we'll all be on the same page." Mouse smirks at me, still lounging back in the armchair.

"So, I really appreciate you all doing this."

"No problem man. You don't have to thank us. You're our brother. You've always been there for us, we will always be there for you."

"Thanks Marcus."

"We know you didn't do it Jay." Mouse's words lift my fears.

"I- uh- thanks." There's a small silence that stretches between us.

"So, Erin's even more gorgeous in person. Lucky bastard." I roll my eyes at Jake.

"If you weren't making eyes at her I would totally want to take a crack." I don't feel jealously, knowing Jake's only kidding.

"Ha ha."

"I'm flattered." We all whip our head around to a smirking Erin; I admire the curve of her body as she juts a hip out.

"Uh." She laughs as she pushes her glasses back up her nose.

"Just grabbing some refreshments, carry on with your girl talk boys."

She struts past us and into the kitchen before disappearing back down towards her office.

"She's so intimidating."

"Yeah. Try getting into a fight with her." I agree with Mouse.

"Like I literally froze in there when she was prepping me… and I'm just a character witness. She wasn't trying to get any sinister information from me." Mouse continues on as the others chuckle.

"Oh she didn't scare you? Not even a little?" I ask them.

"Back to you." They change the topic, causing us all to share a laugh.

"You guys have a banging make up session after a fight?"

"Banging make up session?" I raise my brows in disbelief.

"Tell me you didn't just utter those words." Marcus just shrugs without a hint of embarrassment.

"Our fights are generally related to the trial, not really something that ends in a passionate… anything. Except heated words." I sigh heavily rubbing my forehead tiredly.

"I'm sorry man. I'm glad she's there for you." Jake reaches over to rest a hand on my shoulder.

"I'd be in prison without her." There's a heavy silence that settles over us for a few moments.

"So who usually wins the fights?"

"Hmm the ranger who didn't go to college or the high powered defense attorney. Tough one." I laugh at my own sarcasm.

"Well, we're looking forward to seeing her in action. We're going to come to court, support you."

"You do not have to do that. Any of you. I'm more thankful than you could know just for you sparing time to testify on my behalf."

"There's nothing that could keep us out of the courtroom, we're here to provide well practiced and honest character testimony." Mouse ads his usual flourish.

"Except if your Mrs told us not to enter, because I wouldn't get on the wrong side of her." We all laugh at Marcus before moving the topic along to lighter subjects.

I watch Erin intently as she leans back on the arm of the couch beside me, taking a long swig of beer and listening intently to another army story.

After she finished prepping everyone she ordered Pizza and pulled out the beers in gratitude.

I caught the way she looked at me when she handed me my first beer, feeling grateful she wanted me to enjoy a night with my friends.

Happiness within me that she wants to get to know my friends, to really be involved in every aspect of my life.

Some of the stories have taken a darker turn and she would catch me looking at my beer bottle in shame and reach a hand over to caress the back of my neck, silently reassuring me she's here.

"No." She gasps bringing me back to the present, trying to muffle a laugh as the guys attempt to embarrass me regaling tales of the mischief we got up to on base.

"You didn't."

"Oh, he did. He's real smooth like that." I roll my eyes as they laugh at my misery, before turning the tables on them by sharing other stories of our times overseas.

"You guys certainly seem to have a close bond."

"We went through a lot together mam." Mouse nods at her.

"Mam? Do I look like a mam?"

"Uh. No mam. I mean- Erin." Mouse blinks at her intimidated, before she giggles.

"The guys here think you're scary and intimidating." I let her know with a smirk as I look up to her.

"Oh I most certainly can be. Serves me well." She sends them a wink before excusing herself to the bathroom.

I join Erin in the kitchen with some empty beer bottles as she moves around cleaning.

"They seem nice." She smiles over at me.

"They said the same about you." She stops to turn around and leans back against the bench.

"I heard." She smirks as she raises an eyebrow.

"You don't talk about your time overseas much." Her voice is quiet that it would be easy enough to pretend I didn't hear.

"It's not something I like to think about."

"Is that the healthiest option?"

"Probably not, the guys invited me to their support group."

"You should look into it."

"Thanks for having us Erin." Marcus reaches his hand out, I watch Erin shake her head and pull him in for a hug, before moving to do the same to the others.

"No, thank you for coming and sitting through prep for court. It means a lot to us that you would take the time for that."

"I was under the impression we didn't have a choice." Jake jokes back nudging her arm, not catching the way Erin freezes, eyes widening.

"What? Of course you did… I called you guys and made it clear I didn't expect this of you."

"Buddy, I was messing around. You don't even have to ask, and we'll be there to help you with whatever." Jake reassures me.

"I appreciate that, but why did you say…" I trail off watching Erin swallow nervously, her eyes betraying her to me.

"Oh shit, you didn't know." Jake curses with a shake of the head.

"Did Erin call you?"

My question is met by silence.

"Jay." She whispers, moving towards me, I shrug out of her grasp.

"Did she?"

They all exchange glances before looking to Erin who nods once, consenting them to be honest.

"Yes."

"When?"

"Sometime around when you were in hospital." Mouse finally answers for them.

"I told you I didn't want to involve them. Here I was thinking you were honoring that until I changed my mind and called them myself."

"Jay, please let me explain."

"I'm sorry, I think I really stepped in it here. I didn't mean to cause any problems."

"You didn't, she did." I feel a small stab of regret as I see the hurt in her eyes.

"I'll let you say goodbye to your friends. I'll be in the kitchen. Bye guys."

"I'm sorry to have put my foot in my mouth." She just shakes her head at him and excuses herself.

"Jay, don't be an idiot now." Miles snaps me out of it.

"She shouldn't have done that."

"What? Fight to save the man she loves? Fight to save him when no one else was? You may think things she does are wrong. But she seems to know what she's doing… and from where I'm standing she's done a lot for you." Mouse tries to talk sense into me.

"So that excuses her?"

"No, but just take it into account. We'll leave you to go make up."

We share some hugs before I close the door behind them, I don't allow my anger to subside before moving to find Erin in the living room.

"Is this the secret?" She freezes her hand around an empty beer bottle, before continuing to pick things up as if I didn't ask a question.

"Erin, is this the secret?"

"We agreed you'd stop asking me about it."

"That's before you went behind my back."

"I didn't go behind your back." I scoff at her.

"What do you call that then?"

"My job, you hired me to work on your behalf. I worked on your behalf. Besides, you agreed to me prepping them." She shrugs at me.

"After you had already contracted them." My voice is full of anger as I snap.

"You agreed nonetheless."

"That sounds like some fancy double talk." She moves to take the rubbish to the kitchen and I follow.

"Erin, stop ignoring me."

"Why? So you can yell at me?" I close my eyes in frustration.

"You went behind my back. I trusted you, and you did it anyway."

"Jesus Jay, this game is getting tired." Her voice is deflated, like the fight is too much for her.

"What game?"

"Where I do something that's in the best interest of your defense - using my experience as an attorney, and you fight me on it. I'm tired Jay. I fight all day, and at home… I just don't want to fight anymore." Her eyes are glossy with tears.

"Then don't cause a fight." She scoffs, shooting me a look of disbelief.

"That would be like asking me to stop fighting for your case." She knocks a beer bottle off the counter and before she can catch it, it smashes on the ground.

"Damn it." She curses reaching down for it, cursing again when red spills down her hand.

"Erin, you okay?"

"Don't." Her voice is louder now, full of fire as she motions for me to stay back.

I watch in silence as she wraps a tea towel around her hand, and grabs the dustpan and broom under the kitchen sink, getting to work on cleaning up the broken glass.

"You think this is easy for me?" The end to the silence shocks me back into our fight.

"You were in a fucking hospital bed. If you go back to jail you'll end up in a body bad. So sue me, I'm fucking selfish and I want to save you. I don't want to lose you. I'm sorry you feel I betrayed you but sometimes…" She trails off, eyes full of fire dropping to the floor.

"Sometimes what?" I challenge her.

"Sometimes Jay, it feels like you don't even want to fight this."

"What are you talking about?"

"You shoot down every strategy I have." She raises her eyebrows as if daring me to dispute her.

"If they are underhanded or bring people I care about into this, then yes." I cross my arms against my chest, showing my defiance.

"We can't fight fair Jay." She shakes her head, rolling her eyes.

"Why not, it's who I am."

"Because the prosecution isn't. The media isn't. Your god damn family isn't. Life isn't fair, so when the stakes are this high we can't fight fair. We aren't breaking any laws; we aren't doing anything underhanded because I'm following the god damn law so… I don't know what you want from me."

"I want you to be honest. I want a girlfriend I can trust." I see it instantly on her face, my words wound her.

"Well maybe you can't have a girlfriend who is your lawyer." Her words send dread to my stomach, her spilling them before I can take back my accusation.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying I try to be your lawyer and you say you want me to prioritize being your girlfriend. But that's not going to win the case."

"Well I don't want to lose you, I'm in love with you." The words are desperate as they leave my mouth.

"I warned you against this, I told you this is why I fought our feelings. Because I knew it would get too hard to mix professional and personal."

"Erin, I don't even know what to say right now."

"Because you're too mad. I get it. So take some time, think about it and decide what you want." She shrugs like it's nothing, when I can see the heartbreak and fear on her face.

"Meaning what?"

"Can you handle me being your girlfriend and your lawyer?" Her eyes are holding my gaze.

"You'll step down as my lawyer if I can't?" She drops her eyes.

"No, I'll step down as your girlfriend." With that I feel all the air has left my lungs, a punch to the gut.

With that ultimatum she pushes her way out of the kitchen, grabs her coat and slams the apartment door behind her.

A/N: A little something in honor of Jesse's birthday.

Also I'm sorry, don't hate me... please review and I'll try update tomorrow night.

And, I'm really tired after today so it's not my best update - but it is longer lol

thank you and stay safe :)